Skate-strap.



No. 687,427. Patented Nov. 26, l90l. W. H. GAY.

SKATE STRAP. (Application m Jan. 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

In: NORRIS Pzrcns co. morouma. WASNINGTON. u, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

"WILLIAM H. GAY, OF PORTLAND", MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD T. BURROWES, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

S KAT E-STRA P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,427, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed January 23, 1901- Serial No. 44,424. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. GAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skate-Straps; and I do hereby declare-the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in skate-straps; and it is embodied in the con struction and arrangement of parts presently to be described, and defined in the claims.

The aim and purpose of the invention is the provision of a skate-strap having in its general structure a portion extended transversely and associated with a complementary portion united thereto, and an interposed body of yielding material thus formed as a unit, a strap, and a cushion for the instep or other portion of the foot of the wearer, the cushion serving as part of the strap.

Skatestraps have been used in connection with pads heretofore, but the pads have been separate from the strap-that is, have been made separately-and in many places simply placed on the foot and the strap drawn down on the pad. It has also been suggested to attach the pad to the strap at remote points. In the former construction the strap is liable to work off the pad, while in the latter case the pad will present an irregular surface, buckling and bending at improper points. My invention is designed to overcome these objections and defects.

I have shown the invention in the accompanying drawings and a modification thereof, but desire it to be understood that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the strap having the improvement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the pad portion. Fig. 4. is a detailed view of the spring-retainer which is shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form; and Fig. 6 is a view of a similar modified form, showing a diiferent form of pad.

In the drawings, A represents the strap proper. This strap adjacent its buckle end is extended transversely to form an enlargement B, conveniently of oval shape, having its end terminating in a tag or tongue b,which is looped around a bar of the buckle B and secured in its looped position bya rivet or other convenient means.

0 designates an oval-shaped piece corresponding in shape to the extension B and is secured at its edges by suitable stitches to the extension B, thus forming a pocket in which a flexible substance-such as hair, woolen, or cotton D-is packed and held. To normally hold the pad straight, I conveniently inclose within the pocket a metallic spring E, which is preferably fashioned to the shape of the pocket and fitted in the outer edge thereof, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. This spring may be of flat steel or other suitable material, and its normal condition is straight, so that upon the bending of the pad the spring will be bent; but upon the release of the pressure the spring will tend to return the pad to its normal condition.

From the'construct-ion above described it will be seen that the pad is a longitudinal continuation of the strap-in fact, is a portion of the strap-and in this respectis always held in its proper position relative to the buckle and the strap proper.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slight modiflca tion wherein the strap A is attached to the pad by a rivet or other means a. In this construction two pieces are required as distinguished from the one piece construction above referred to.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form wherein the pad has an inflated bag for the filling of the pocket, the inflation of the bag being accomplished in any convenient manner. In use the pad is generally intended for the instep, the same being placed thereover and the strap fastened around the heel I of the skate and drawn tight, thus holding the pad close on the instep. In practice it has been found that a strap of this nature can be very tightly drawn over the instep Without injury or discomfort.

In each of the forms hereinbefore referred to the pad is arranged to extend in the same general direction as the strap to constitute a pad connected at one rend to said strap extending above" and below the plane of the strap and in the same general direction as the strap to constitute alongitudinal extension thereof and adapted to bear upon the instep, and a fastener at the opposite end of the pad, substantially asdescribed.

-. In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM H. GAY. Witnesses:

STEPHEN W. CABLE, FRANK L. RIOKER. 

